Once the phase II orthodontic treatment is completed with the removal of the fixed appliance, regardless of the patient's age, a restraint device is applied that has it aim to stabilize the teeth in the position reached, giving the tissues time to adapt to change and to make the occlusion more stable.
Our body is subject to continuous changes during the course of life: authoritative research have shown that over the years the perimeter of the dental arches tends gradually to contract, particularly in the lower arch, causing a worsening alignment of the teeth: for this reason, even in people who have never performed a orthodontic treatment, the teeth tend to become crowded over time. The restraint phase results therefore as important as that of active treatment.
The decision as to how long to prolong the restraint phase depends on many factors and will be communicated by the Doctor at the end of the treatment: some cases require a short period, in others the restraint is maintained until the end of the growth or for the whole life.
The restraint can be, depending on the case, fixed and / or mobile.
